Your credit score is an indication of financial wellness that lenders look at to help determine your ability to secure lower interest rates for vehicle loans, mortgages, credit cards and other types of credit.

Quick tip: If you want to know what’s going on with your credit, you can view your credit report for free at AnnualCreditReport.com. You won’t see your credit score, but you will see a breakdown of your debts and payment history. The three credit reporting agencies—Transunion®, Experian® and Equifax®—typically offer the ability to view credit scores and payment history for a small fee.

Whether you knew it or not, you may have been protected from high credit card repayment rates while you served, thanks to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. When you leave active duty, though, standard interest rates kick in. Credit card rates are usually well into the double-digits, so interest charges can pile up quickly. Paying those bills late—or ignoring them—can damage that all-important credit score. Even carrying a large balance can start to hurt your credit. Try to stay on top of your credit card bills as much as possible and be sure to read the fine print and know when payments are due.

You may consider consolidation as an option for managing debt. Generally, consolidation is when you take out one big loan to cover all of your existing debt, leaving you with one loan to repay, usually with a lower rate. The Veterans Administration does not specifically offer a debt consolidation loan, but it does offer a type of home refinancing that is often referred to as one. If you own a home, this could be an option for you. It may be a long process, since the VA will appraise your house to make sure that including additional debt in a refinancing won’t cause your loan to exceed the value of your home. As with any major financial decision, it’s a good idea to discuss options with a financial advisor or your lender.

If you have Veterans Group Life Insurance, you may be eligible for free financial counseling. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling can also point you to certified credit counselors. You can report any problems you might encounter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which has a division specifically tasked with helping service members and veterans.